Description

Extinctions have always occurred and always will, so what is so surprising about the megafauna extinctions? They were caused by humans and were the first of many extinctions that eventually led to the extinction of the Moa, Steller's Sea Cow, the Dodo, Great Auk and countless other species great and small, all attributed to human agency. Therefore, the megafauna were humans' first great impact on the planet. There is now an increasing realization that the 'blitzkrieg' view of these extinctions may have been wrong. A growing body of evidence and long-term field work is beginning to show that at least Australia's megafauna did not succumb to human agency, not because humans probably did not hunt the odd animal but because the an infinitely more logical reason lies in the climatic conditions of the Quaternary Ice Ages and the affect they had on continental geography, environment, climate and, most importantly, the biogeography of the megafauna. This book presents the evidence of this theory, demonstrating the biogeographic approach to Australia's megafauna extinction.show more

Table of contents

Chapter 5. The Australian Tertiary and the first marsupial extinctions

Chapter 6. Australia and the Ice Ages

Chapter 7. Who and Where: the Australian Megafauna and their distribution

Chapter 8. Australia's Megafauna Extinction Drivers

Chapter 9. Megafauna in the Southern Lake Eyre Basin: a case study

Chapter 10. Megafauna and Humans in Australia and Southeast Asiashow more

Review quote

"Focusing primarily on the Quaternary Ice Ages, the climate extremes brought about by them, and the environmental consequences that Australia underwent during the Quaternary, Webb explores the extinction of large animals in Australia and ponders what lessons can be learned about the extinction of humans in the near or distant future."--Reference and Research Book News, August 2013show more

About Steve Webb

Professor Steve Webb currently serves as Professor of Australian Studies at Bond University, Australia. He has worked with the Federal Government and Indigenous agencies extensively, playing a significant role in the repatriation of Aboriginal skeletal remains from Australian and overseas museums to Aboriginal communities. This work has given him a broad understanding of past and present Aboriginal society and the issues facing Aboriginal people.show more